COMPANY INFORMATION

About Hakubakan

About Hakubakan

Hakubakan Co., Ltd. is a mountain resort company founded in 1890 with over 100 years of history.
We will continue to walk together with you all so that the charm of Hakuba can be conveyed to as many people as possible.

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Profile

Company NameHakubakan Co., Ltd.
Address〒399-9301
6307 Hokujo, Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture
Phone0261-72-3122
URL hakubakan.com
Representative DirectorTeiichi Matsuzawa
Year of Establishment1890
Business InformationMountain hut management, travel agency, general ski resorts (ropeway business, food and beverage business)
FacilitiesHakuba Sanso Lodge, Goryu Sanso Lodge, Oike Sanso Lodge, Yari Onsen Hut, Tsugaike Hutte, Kiretto Hut, Hakubajiri Campite, Sarukura Hut, Northern Alps General Information Center, Kanenonaruoka Ski Slope

The History of Hakubakan and Mt. Hakuba

1890Yamaki Ryokan was built (the predecessor of Hakubakan, the base for climbing Mt. Hakuba)
1893The Land Survey Department of the Army Ministry General Staff Office established a first-order triangulation point on the summit of Mt. Hakuba.
1894Walter Weston, an English missionary, climbed Mt. Hakuba from Renge Onsen.
1898Reizo Kono, the principal of Omachi Elementary School, climbed Mt. Hakuba and informed the world that it is a treasure trove of alpine plants.
1900Teiitsu Matsuzawa reached the summit of Mt. Hakuba for the first time at the age of 11.
1902Dr. Naomasa Yamasaki climbed Mt. Hakuba and published his glacial theory.
1905Teiitsu Matsuzawa obtained the right to use the rock chamber of the Army Ministry on the summit of Mt. Hakuba.
1906The rock chamber was remodeled and a hut was built. It was called the "Chojo Koya", which means "summit hut" (the predecessor of Hakuba Sanso Lodge. It was also the first mountain hut in Japan).
1908Hakubajiri Hut is built (a hut built on a large rock).
1909The Nagano Obayashi District Office, Forestry Bureau, prohibited the collection of alpine plants for any purpose other than academic research.
1913Weston climbed Mt. Hakuba for the second time. He stayed at Yamaki Ryokan and the Chojo Koya.
The Land Survey Department of the Army Ministry published a 1:50000 topographical map "Hakubadake".
1915Two new buildings were built at the summit of Mt. Hakuba and were called "Hakuba Chojo Koya".
Hakubakan General Partnership was established.
1916Yamaki Ryokan was renamed to Hakubakan on the advice of a local lawyer, Yoshitaro Shimokawa.
Hakubajiri Hut was expanded.
Oito Line opened between Matsumoto and Omachi.
1922Teiitsu Matsuzawa purchased two Fords and established Hokujo Motors Limited Partnership.
Bus service started between Omachi and Hakuba.
Hachimine Kiretto Hut and Hakuba Yari Onsen Hut were built.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture designated the Hakuba Mountains Alpine Flora and Fauna Zone as a natural monument.
1923Hakuba Oike Hut was built.
1924Teiitsu Matsuzawa founded the Hokujo Mountain Guide Association and became the first president.
1926September 1: Teiitsu Matsuzawa was killed in a car accident at the age of 37.
From then on, Kin Matsuzawa and Tomio Shimokawa ran Hakubakan.
1927Hakuba Chojo Koya was expanded.
1928Hakuba Yari Onsen Hut was expanded.
1930Minamimata Koya was built at Minamimata.
Sarukura Ski Hut was built at Sarukura.
Hakubakan Futamata Annex was built in Futamata.
1931A new dining room opened at Hakuba Chojo Koya.
Showa Medical School (Showa University School of Medicine) opened the Mt. Hakuba Clinic at the Hakuba Chojo Koya.
1932Oito Line opened between Kamishiro and Moriue. Shinano Yotsuya Station (now Hakuba Station) opened.
Karamatsu Koya was built on Mt. Karamatsu.
1933Tsugaike Koya (the predecessor of Tsugaike Hutte) was built.
1934A new annex was built at the Hakuba Chojo Koya. It was a two-storey building with special Western-style bedrooms, a reading room, a darkroom, a medical room and a drying room, and was lit by gas lamps.
It is called "Hakuba Sanso Lodge", the first mountain hotel in Japan.
1937Hakuba Sanso Lodge New Annex No.1 was expanded.
1941An orientation table was completed on the summit of Mt. Hakuba. It was the model for Jiro Nitta's "Kyouryokuden."
1945June: Tomio Shimokawa was killed in action during a battle in China at the age of 38.
1948March: Tsunehisa Matsuzawa became the representative of Hakubakan.
1951Goryu Hut (now Goryu Mountain Lodge) was built.
1956Kamishiro Village and Hokujo Village were merged to form Hakuba Village.
1957Development of Oyanohara Ski Resort (now Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort) beginned.
Oito Line was fully opened between Matsumoto and Itoigawa.
1959August 13 (the Typhoon Night): a fire broke out in the drying room of Hakuba Sanso Lodge and almost the entire building was burned down. Only one building on the Toyama side remained. Everyone was safe.
1961September 16: a building at Hakuba Sanso Lodge which was in rebuild process collapsed due to a typhoon.
Helicopter cargo transport beginned (first time at a 3000m-class mountain hut)
1962Hakuba Sanso Lodge New Annex No.1 was completed.
1963Hakuba Village Mountaineering Accident Prevention Association was established.
Hakuba Sanso Lodge New Annex No.2 was completed.
1966The Teiitsu Matsuzawa Support Association erected a relief of Teiitsu Matsuzawa on the summit of Mt. Hakuba.
1967July: the Hakuba Village Tourism Federation held the first Hakubadake Teiitsu Festival (mountain opening festival).
1968The Japan Weather Association beginned mountain weather observations by establishing a permanent base at Hakuba Sanso Lodge.
Shinano Yotsuya Station was renamed to Hakuba Station.
1970Tsugaike Wetland was opened as Tsugaike Nature Park.
1971Hakubakan Co., Ltd. was established.
1973Prince Hiromiya climbed Mt. Hakuba. He stayed at Hakuba Sanso Lodge on August 21 and descended the mountain via Yari Onsen on August 22.
1979Hakuba Sanso Lodge New Annex No.3 was completed. Japanese and Western special rooms were available.
Large-scale lightning protection equipment was installed.
1983Tsunehisa Matsuzawa was elected to be the prefectural assembly member. He served three terms until 1995.
1987Yari Onsen Hut and Hokkein Onsen Sanso (Kuju Town, Oita Prefecture) established sister onsen ties.
Hachimine Kiretto Hut was renewed. The building is made of Kiso cypress.
1988Prince Hiromiya climbed Mt. Goryu via Mt. Karamatsu. On August 30, he stayed at Goryu Sanso Lodge.
On August 31, he descended the mountain via Tomi-one.
1989Teiichi Matsuzawa became the president. Tsunehisa Matsuzawa became the chairman.
1990Solar and wind power generation system was completed at Hakuba Sanso Lodge. It had a maximum electricity generation of 70kw.
1991A new restaurant building "Sky Plaza Hakuba" was built at Hakuba Sanso Lodge. It is made of laminated Japanese larch.
1998February 2: Tsunehisa Matsuzawa passed away at the age of 73.
1999A bust of Tsunehisa Matsuzawa was erected at Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort by local volunteers.
2000Tsugaike Hutte is relocated and rebuilt due to the redevelopment of Tsugaike Nature Park.